MELAKA – The government, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is reviewing possible measures, including legal action, against social media giant Meta if it continues to fail in addressing fake accounts linked to the Malay Rulers institution and scam-related content.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the authorities are considering multiple approaches and expressed hope that Meta would respond to calls for cooperation in making its platforms safer for users in Malaysia, Bernama reported.
“We have summoned Meta because many of these fake accounts are found on the Facebook platform in particular, although they also exist on other platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. However, the majority are on Facebook.
“I have reprimanded Meta, but they seem to show no respect for the institution of the Malay Rulers, and I am honestly very disappointed with Meta’s failure, especially the team managing Facebook, to understand that the institution of the Malay Rulers in Malaysia is a very important institution, enshrined in the Constitution and must be respected, including by international platforms such as Facebook.
“I regard legal action as the last option, but we are already close to that last option,” he said.
Fahmi made the remarks after attending the School Infrastructure Contribution Ceremony and Outstanding Student Awards at Hang Tuah Jaya in Ayer Keroh, an event officiated by Deputy Higher Education Minister and Hang Tuah Jaya Member of Parliament Adam Adli Abd Halim. Also present were Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (Strategic Communications and Creative Industry) Nik Kamaruzaman Nik Husin and heads of federal and state departments.
He added that the government is exploring legal measures under the Online Safety Act (ONSA), expected to be gazetted soon, should Meta fail to curb fake accounts and scam content using the names of the Malay Rulers.
“Under this Act, provisions include fines of up to RM1 million and daily fines of RM100,000, in addition to penalties that can reach RM10 million. Therefore, we want platforms such as Facebook to provide better cooperation to ensure they are safe for Malaysians to use,” Fahmi said.
The minister noted that over 15,000 fake accounts impersonating 26 members of royal families were identified between January and May this year, based on MCMC monitoring and public complaints.
Meanwhile, more than 230,000 pieces of content have been requested to be removed from various social media platforms, with over 90 per cent related to online gambling and scams. - May 9, 2026.
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